Advanced Equities is helping concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) systems vendor SolFocus raise its Round E of venture capital financing. Advanced Equities calls itself a "Venture Capital Investment Bank" and relies on its network of accredited investors and high-net-worth individuals to bring funding to long-in-the-tooth startups hungry for capital. Advanced Equities has been called in to fill out the massive fundraising efforts of Fisker Automotive , Bloom Energy , and Serious Materials -- to name the most prominent offenders. Advanced Equities allows VCs such as Kleiner Perkins to fill out venture rounds for their capital-hungry portfolio firms with less dilution of equity than would be imposed by a conventional venture partner. SolFocus CEO Mark Crowley made his pitch for funding on a teleconference with the help of Advanced Equities and Randy Avon , a former member of the...